From 2000-2004, more than 6,000 plant species collected from tropical areas of China and nearby countries were preserved in 35 living collections in the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG). These include about 100 Annonaceae (the custard apple family) collections, among which 12 small trees have been continuously flowering and fruiting in recent years.
The small trees are characterized as species in the genus Meiogyne (a medium-sized genus in Annonaceae) but distinguished from other known species.
XTBG researchers carried out morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses on the Meiogyne materials. Both the molecular and morphological data support the placement of the new species in Meiogyne. It differs from all previously described species, and therefore unequivocally represents a new species.
The researchers named it as Meiogyne oligocarpa and got it published in PeerJ.
Meiogyne oligocarpa. (Image by YANG Bin)
Flowers of Meiogyne oligocarpa. (Image by YANG Bin)
Individual flower of Meiogyne oligocarpa. (Image by YANG Bin)
Fruits of Meiogyne oligocarpa. (Image by YANG Bin)
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